Lysithea didn't receive its present name until 1975; before then, it was simply known as Jupiter X. It was sometimes called "Demeter"[5] from 1955 to 1975.

It belongs to the Himalia group, five moons orbiting between 11 and 13 Gm from Jupiter at an inclination of about 28.3°.[2] Its orbital elements are as of January 2000. They are continuously changing due to solar and planetary perturbations.